Short answer: in the UAE today, a certified pre-owned MacBook Pro starts at AED 1,649 and a Windows business laptop with similar practical performance starts at around AED 1,299. Choose macOS if you edit video or photos, work in design, or already live in the Apple ecosystem. Choose a Windows business laptop if you run company software, need ports without adapters, or want the most machine for the money.
What AED 1,600–3,700 buys you on each side
| Laptop | Chip | From (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| HP EliteBook 840 G7 | Core i7, 10th gen | 1,299 |
| HP EliteBook 840 G8 | Core i7, 11th gen | 1,699 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (A2141) | Intel Core i7 + Radeon Pro 5300M | 1,649 |
| Dell Latitude 5421 | Core i7 11th gen, H-series | 1,799 |
| Dell Precision 5550 | Core i7 10th gen + 4GB graphics | 1,949 |
| Dell Precision 3551 | Core i7 10th gen + 4GB graphics | 2,149 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16″ M1 Pro (A2485) | Apple M1 Pro | 3,699 |
Where each one genuinely wins
The MacBook Pro 16″ M1 Pro, AED 3,699
This is the one worth paying for if your work is video, photography or music. Apple’s M1 Pro runs long exports without the fan noise and heat of an Intel machine, and battery life on a charge is in a different league from any Intel laptop on this page. It is also the most expensive machine we stock, so buy it for a reason, not for the logo.
The Intel MacBook Pro 16″, AED 1,649
The cheapest way into macOS with a large screen and discrete Radeon graphics. Honest caveat: this is an Intel-era Mac. It runs warmer and its battery life is ordinary next to the M1. For a student or a designer who needs macOS and a big screen on a budget, it still makes sense.
The Windows side, AED 1,299–2,149
For the price of the entry MacBook you can have an EliteBook 840 G7 with a Core i7 and still have AED 350 left. For the price of the M1 Pro you could buy a Precision 3551 mobile workstation and an EliteBook. Windows business machines also keep the ports Apple removed: HDMI, USB-A and often an Ethernet port, so no dongle bag.
How to decide in one minute
- Company software only runs on Windows → Windows. This decides it before anything else.
- You edit video or RAW photos most days → MacBook Pro M1 Pro.
- You want macOS but the M1 Pro is out of budget → the Intel MacBook Pro 16″ at AED 1,649.
- You want maximum speed per dirham → Core i7 and above on the Windows side.
- You need a touchscreen or pen → Windows. Apple does not make a touchscreen MacBook; see touchscreen laptops.
The same guarantees either way
Whichever side you pick, the unit has passed the 50-point quality check, has battery health measured at 80% or above, carries a 12-month NewAsNew Assured warranty on hardware defects, and can be returned within 14 days with free pickup. Delivery is free across the UAE.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple’s own warranty apply to a used MacBook in the UAE?
Do not assume it does. Apple’s manufacturer warranty is time-limited from original purchase and service can be restricted by country. What you get from us is our own 12-month NewAsNew Assured warranty on hardware defects, honoured by us.
Is an Intel MacBook still worth buying in 2026?
For office work, study and light creative work, yes — at AED 1,649 for a 16-inch machine with discrete graphics. For heavy video work, the M1 Pro is worth the jump.
Can I run Windows software on a MacBook?
Some, through virtualisation, but compatibility is not guaranteed on Apple-silicon Macs. If a specific Windows application is essential to your job, buy a Windows machine.
Which holds its value better?
MacBooks generally resell for more. That gap is already reflected in the purchase price, so it does not automatically make them cheaper to own.
Do you have MacBook Airs?
Stock changes. See the current list on the MacBooks page, or ask us on WhatsApp what is arriving.
Not sure which side you are on?
Tell us your three main applications on WhatsApp at +971 56 377 7421. If a Windows machine does your job for half the money, we will say so.
Written by the NewAsNew team. NewAsNew UAE is operated by Greenheart International Trading FZE LLC, Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, trade licence 4427618.01. About us.
